Label applying machine



July 5, 1955 J. M. BROWN 9 LABEL APPLYING MACHINE Q I Original Filed May 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG; I. FIG.3.

s5 66 61 I40 so '59 46 q" l6 INVENTOR JOHN M. BROWN ATTORNEY July 5, 1955 J-. M. BROWN 2,712,393

LABEL APPLYING MACHINE Original Filed May 13, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR JOHN M. BROWN ATTORNEY July 5, 1955 J BROWN 2,712,393

LABEL APPLYING MACHINE Original Filed May 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8. |5

I4 A 9 MI H3 9 I I lO9 I I I04 98 I43 I00 97 I03 I09 m H2 I05 I06 1 ii I 27 ,0 0 I20 '07 n" 'l/ I44 I22 I23 I24 /ll9 94 I I I I I 24A I i 2F I I E I I 24 9s 95 24 M I l5 I4 I5 IIo , I09 I22 93 97 I03 I06 I08 FIG. I2.

98 I43 I00 IoI NVENTOR JOHN M. BROWN BY. W

ATTORNEY United States Patent LABEL APPLYING MACHINE John M. Brown, Lynwood, Calif.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. 26,795, May 13, 1943. This application October 10, 1952, Serial No. 314,148

Claims. (Cl. 216-55) This invention relates to machines for applying labels to bottles, boxes or other articles and more particularly to labeling machines in which liquid adhesive is used as the bonding medium.

In the past, machines of this type have required considerable service both before and after a period of operation. In machines using rollers for the application of adhesive, it is necessary to put a supply of the adhesive liquid in the machine and, after operation, remove remaining adhesive liquid in the machine and thoroughly clean the rollers and other adhesively coated parts so that adhesive will not harden on their surfaces and cause damage and failure in operation on restarting the machine. Even in the event of short periods of inoperation, the rollers must be either cleaned or kept running. The same conditions hold true in the intermittent rotating disc or grid type of applicator, it being very necessary to remove and clean the disc and Wiper assemblies. Other types of adhesive applicators in which label transfer parts become coated or splattered with adhesive during operation and are then exposed to the atmosphere, require frequent cleaning to be effective in operation and to prevent damage to the machine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a labeling machine which will be immediately serviceable without any preparation and that will require no clean up or service of the adhesive applicator after a period of operation. Since few labeling machines are run continuously for long periods and are usually operated in conjunction with machines for cleaning, filling, and capping containers, the advantage of a labeler that does not require any cleaning or servicing of the adhesrve a plicator either before or after a period of operation, or during short periods of inoperation, is readily understood. Another object of the invention is the provision of a label transfer means adapted for use with my new type adhesive applicator giving one complete labeling opera- I tion for each machine cycle.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an adjustable suction picker mechanism which will handle all different sizes'and shapes of labels within the size limitations of the adhesive applicator, without the necessity of changing the picker device or the other parts on the machine; which facilitates the release of a top label from a label hopper; which also in the event a label is flicked out and not picked up will itself not be coated with adhesive as it moves over the adhesive applicator; and which will minimize the twisting effects of a flexible suction picker and tend to hold the label in a flat natural position.

These and other objects are attained by my invention which will be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a preferred form of my labeling machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing portions of the label hopper, label picker arm and adhesive applicator;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the adjustable side bars of the picker device;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the adhesive applicator taken on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational View of the presser cam;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the vacuum pump cam; and

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of one of the applicator blades.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of my labeling machine is shown in Figs. 1 to 12. The mechanism may be suitably supported in a frame 14 consisting of four corner posts 15, with side frame members 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20; end cross members 21, 22, 23; and base member 24 upon which the corner posts 15 are mounted.

In general, my labeling machine consists of a label holder 26, an adhesive applicator 27 and a container C positioned to receive the label L, arranged in the sequence named and substantially on the same horizontal plane. A picker mechanism 28 first picks up a label from the top of a stack of labels held by the label holder 26, and transfers it to the adhesive applicator 27, and then transfers the label with adhesive to the face of the container C, where it is pressed into intimate surface contact while the picker 28 returns to the initial position.

In the preferred form, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 to 7, the picker mechanism 28 consists of a horizontally disposed picker arm 29, one end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertically disposed-transfer arm 36, the freeend of said arm 29 being adapted to move in a generally horizontal path toward and away from a label box 26, adhesive applicator 27 and a container C on the container support 31. The picker arm 29 at the free end is provided with a vertical tube or nipple 32 to the lower end of which is attached a suction cup '33. The other end of the nipple 32 is connected by a flexible tube 34 to a suction pump, to be later described,

the tube being fastened to the picker arm 29 by the cleat 35. Slotted brackets 36 extending laterally from the free end portion of the picker arm 29 adjacent the suction cup 33 are provided and label positioning siderails 37 are adjustably attached to each bracket by the stud bolt 38 and nut 39 movable in the slot 40. The lower edges 41 of the siderails 37 are provided with a plurality of cross slots 42, the lands 43 being substantially level with the lower rim of the suction cup 33 and adapted to contact the front or display surface of the labels. The combination of the suction cup 33 and the adjustably positioned siderails 37 provides a universal picker which may be used for different sizes and shapes of labels.

The transfer mechanism serves to transfer the label picker mechanism 28 and an individual label held thereon from the label holder to a label applying station. It consists of a transfer arm 30, bifurcated at the upper end,

Patented July 5, 1955 transfer arm and is pivotally connected to the picker arm 29 at the pivot 52 disposed a short distance forwardly from the pivot pin 47. At the top of the operating rod 48 is provided a tension spring 53, one end being held by the bracket 54 so that an upward tension on the rod 48 is exerted.

The transfer arm 30 is oscillated in proper timing with the other elements of the machine by means of the link 55 connected by the pivot 56 at a point a little above the offset 44, the other end of the link 55 being pivoted at 57 to the vertically disposed lever 58. The lever 58 at its upper end is pivotally mounted on the shaft 59 held to the top frame member 16 by the pillow blocks 60. A cam follower roller 61 adapted to be held against the edge of the transfer arm cam 62 by means of the spring 79 is mounted on the bracket 64 attached to said vertically disposed lever 58. The cam 62 is mounted for clockwise rotation with the power shaft 63 and when said power shaft is rotated, the cam 62 will oscillate the lever 58 causing the connecting link 55 to reciprocate and in turn to oscillate the transfer arm 30 from the label pickup station to the adhesive application station and thence to the label applying station.

The label picker device 28 while adapted to be moved in a substantially horizontal manner by the transfer mechanism is also adapted to be moved in a vertical direction at times, as for example into and out of the label holder 26, toward and away from the container C on the container support 31. The vertical movement is accomplished by a rocker lever 65 mounted on the rock shaft 66 on the top frame members 16 on pillow blocks 67. The forward end of the rocker lever 65 is pivotally connected at 65A to the upper end of picker operating rod 48. The opposite end of the lever 65 is provided with a picker cam follower roller 68 adapted to bear on the picker cam 69 mounted to move with the power shaft 63, the rotation of the cam causing the rocker lever 65 at times to alternately depress and raise the picker operating rod 48 and this in turn causing the picker mechanism 28 to oscillate vertically. The spring 53 mounted above the lever 65 on the bracket 54 keeps the roller 68 in contact with the cam 69. The suction cylinder 70 pivotally mounted at one end 71 to the frame member 22 provides a source of suction for the label picker. A

pump cam 72 mounted on the power shaft 63 and contacted by the cam roller 73 on rotation causes the lever 74, pivoted at the back frame on the pivot 75, to operate the pivotally connected piston rod 76 extending into the cylinder '70 and carrying a piston 77, providing the suction for the suction cup 33 to pick up and hold the label and to release it in synchronism with the picker and transfer mechanisms. The flexible tube 34 from the nipple 32 on the suction cup 33 is connected to the inlet 78 of the pump.

The label holder 26 has a base plate 80 with four slots 81 in which are adjustably mounted the finger support blocks 82 by means of the thumb screws 83 which blocks support the label fingers 84. The fingers 84 are spaced at the margin of the labels, intermediate the corners thereof. An elevator rod 85 extends perpendicularly through the base plate 80 and is slidably mounted in the bushing 86. The upper end of the rod 85 is provided with a label elevating plate 87 with four slots 88 through which the label fingers 84 project. The label fingers 84 have inwardly projecting stops 89 which limit the upward movement of the stack of labels, and which press against the edges of the topmost label. The upward elevating pressure is maintained by means of the counterweight 90 which is adjustably mounted on the bar 91, a connecting link 92 connecting the forward end of the bar 91 to the lower end of the elevating rod 85. The label holder base plate 80 is mounted on the frame members 20.

The adhesive applicator 27 is mounted on a vertically adjustable support plate 93 which is attached at the upper end of the mounting rod 94, said rod being slidably mounted in the bracket 95 attached to the frame base member 24A, a set screw 96 being provided to lock the rod 94 in the desired position. The applicator 27 is positioned between the label holder 26 and the container support 31 and in substantially longitudinal alignment with said elements. The adhesive applying grid 97 of the applicator 27 consists of a plurality of thin plates 98 made preferably of non-corrosive material such as stainless steel, said plates being held in vertical spaced relationship by the spacers 99, arranged near the ends of the plates. The upper edges 100 of the plates constitute an adhesive applying surface 101, the spaces between the plates providing channels 102 for the flow of adhesive.

The grid 97 is attached at the outer end edges by two pairs of angled bars 103 and 104 which support the grid, and are adapted to raise and lower the grid so that the top surface 101 is covered with the adhesive liquid, and then moved it above the surface of the adhesive to a label contacting position to cause the transfer of the adhesive coating on the grid surface to the label. One pair of angled bars 103 is attached by bolts 105 to an extension bar 106 extending to a corner post 15 of the frame 14. A mounting block 107 is pivoted by the pivot pin 108 to the corner post 15, and is provided with a vertical stud bolt 109 upon which the bar 106 is removably fastened by the wing nut 110. The other pair of angled bars 104 are pivotally attached by the pivot 111 to the connector 112 fastened at the end of the vertical lifting rod 113 which is raised and lowered by the grid lifter lever 114 having a grid lifter cam follower 115 mounted on the end opposite the vertical lifting rod pivoted attachment 116. The grid lifter lever 114 is pivoted at 118 near its center to a frame cross member. The grid lifter cam 117 is arranged to turn with the main drive shaft 63, the cam follower 115 being held against the cam surface by the action of the tension spring 119 fastened to the end of the lifting rod 113 and to the frame.

The adhesive container 120 is held on the support plate 93 by the nuts 121. Positioned in the adhesive container 120 and adapted to remain beneath the surface of the adhesive, a series of relatively thick displacement plates 122 are provided in the intervening channels 102 between the relatively thin grid plates 98. The displacement plates 122 are held in matching spaced relationship with the plates 98 in the grid 97 by means of spacers 123. The plates and spacers are held together by the bolts 124. The displacement plates 122 limit the amount of adhesive that can be carried by the grid 97 as it moves upward and this eliminates the necessity of providing means to wipe or scrape away excess adhesive that would otherwise be carried upwards with the grid. The clearance between the grid plates and the displacement plates may be selected to provide the proper amount of adhesive on the top grid surface 101.

The container support may be arranged to coact with conveyors, etc., but is shown here in Fig. l, as an example, has a table 1225 held by a vertical rod 126 which is adjustably mounted in the base 127, said base being positioned on the frame base 24. The table has a pair of siderails 128 and an end stop 129, all being adjustable to accommodate the various sizes of bottles, container, or articles to be labeled.

The presser mechanism is used to firmly press the label L on the container C. As shown in Fig. l, the presser mechanism consists of a pad 130 which is preferably made of sponge rubber, and a backing block 131 mounted on the presser rod 132. The rod 132 is slidably mounted in the brackets 133 and 134 extending from the frame. At the upper end, the rod 132 is adjustably fastened in a connector 135 which is pivotally attached at 136 to the presser lever 137. The lever 137 is provided with a pivot shaft 138 near its center, the shaft 138 being mounted in pillow blocks 139 attached to the frame member 17. A cam follower roller 142 is mounted on the other end of the lever 137, and is adapted to follow the surface of the presser cam 145) which is mounted on the main shaft 63. A spring 141 keeps the roller in contact with the cam 140 and also holds the rod 132 in the upward position.

Before the machine is initially started, a supply of liquid adhesive is placed in the container 120 and a stack of labels L is placed in the label holder 26. The main shaft 63 is rotated and the picker mechanism 28 moves from the neutral position shown in Fig. l to the label pickup station as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. At this position, the suction cup 33 is in contact with the top label L and the siderails 37 are pressed slightly below the upward limiting stops 89 on the label fingers 84 and in position for removal without any interference or snubbing from said stops. The siderails 37 on the picker absorb practically all of the shock and strain set up by rapid contact with the stack of labels, allowing a gentle contact between the top label in the stack and the soft flexible lip of the suction picker. This greatly lengthens the life of the suction picker and reduces the frequency of replacement to once a season instead of daily, as in the usual picker mechanisms used with other types of label holders.

It should be noted that as the picker moves into the label holder, suction is applied at the suction cup by means of the action of the suction pump and since con-- tact of the cup with the label seals off the only opening of the suction system, the label adheres thereto until the suction is released.

The picker mechanism with the label is then lifted vertically and since the picker moves faster than the depressed stack of labels travels to the position of the top label against the stops 89, no snubbing occurs and the label is readily released from the holder.

The transfer arm 3t) which has been stationary during the label pick up, now moves forward carrying the picker 23 and the single label L held thereon to the adhesive applying station. As the transfer arm 30 comes to a stop, by action of the cam 62 through the follower 61, and levers 55 and 58, the picker 28 is lowered to the applying position where the picker arm is in a-substantially level position above the grid surface 101.

Meanwhile, since the machine started from the neutral position, the adhesive applying grid 97 has been moving upwardly and when the transfer arm was at the label pickup station, the top 101 of the grid emerged from the adhesive, and continuing to rise, reaches its topmost position at the time the picker with the label descending to meet it reaches a level where the contact of the label with the top surface of the grid will cause the transfer of adhesive to the underside of the label.

As the picker and the label descend to meet the adhesive applicator, the label being held near the center part by the suction cup 33, is prevented from flexing back at the sides (from air movement) by contact with the side bars 37 which are holding the label in a flat natural position. Thus, the label held in this fiat position on being brought into momentary contact with the flat grip top receives a coating of adhesive in the form of lines of adhesive in the interrupted pattern similar to the applying face of the grid.

The picker 28 with the adhesively coated label L is then raised from the grid surface 101, and the transfer arm 36 under action controlled through the cam 62 swings toward the container C on the container table 125. At the same time, the grid 97 descends into the adhesive.

It should be noted that occasionally a label is not picked up, and the picker mechanism reaches the adhesive applicator without a label. When this happens, n0 adhesive is transferred to the picker mechanism because the adhesive applying surface 101 of the grid 97 has a recess 143 slightly larger than the suction cup 33. When the cup 33 without a label is brought to t5 the adhesive applying position, it coincides with the recess 143 and the adhesive does not reach the surface of the suction cup. Similarly, the label contacting edges of the side bars 37 are provided with slots 42 which are positioned opposite the applying edges of the grid plates 93 and when brought to same plane as the grid surface 161, no contact is made and no adhesive is transferred. The combination of the side bars 37 and the suction cup 33 provides a universal suction pickup that is adaptable for all sizes of labels within the limits of the area of the adhesive applicator and this removes the necessity for the many sizes of suction pickers for different sized labels which are generally required in labeling machines.

The lower edges of the adhesive applying grid do not rise out of the adhesive but they are cut back from the lower edge, as shown in Fig. 8 in order to minimize the surge of adhesive toward the sides of the adhesive container when the grid 97 descends into the liquid adhesive, and thus channel the adhesive liquid up and over the top edges of the grid plates to recoat them with fresh adhesive. The holes 144 in the displacement plates improve the circulation of the adhesive in the adhesive container and between the plates.

As has been pointed out above, the displacement plates are positioned under the surface of the adhesive in the intervening channels of the grid, and these plates limit the amount of adhesive carried up by the grid. In this way, excess adhesive which would make the grid inoperative, does not cling between the plates and .fill the intervening channels. The displacement plates prevent this happening before the surface of the grid leaves the adhesive. No wiper or scraper devices are required to eliminate surplus adhesive on the surface of the grid.

After the picker with the adhesively coated label held thereon is carried vertically away from the grid by action of the lifter or picker cam 69, the transfer arm, through the action of the cam 62, then swings thepicker to the label applying station where the picker arm 29 is again lowered and deposits the label on a container or other article positioned on the container support. As the picker holding the label upon which adhesive has been applied approaches the container, the cam 72 controlling the piston 77 in the suction pump causes the piston to descend rapidly in the cylinder and to relieve the suction on the label so that the label is released from the picker when contact is made with the container. Since the label is adhesively coated, it will adhere to the container. The picker is then raised and the transfer arm swings it back to the neutral or starting position. Meanwhile, as the transfer arm swings back out of the way, the presser mechanism presses the label firmly into contact with the container by means of the pressure pad which is pressed by the rod 132 actuated through the lever 137 and the cam 140, following which the presser pad is raised for a repetition of the cycle.

After making contact with the label at the adhesive applying position, the grid descends into the adhesive and reaches the lowest position when the transfer arm is at the neutral or starting position. The grid thus receives a fresh coating of adhesive or if the machine is stopped, the grid being under the surface of the adhesive and not exposed to the atmosphere remains in a serviceable condition, and if desired, is ready to resume operation without any preparation. When the machine is inoperative for some time, a cover may be placed over the adhesive container. The grid unit may be easily and quickly removed, and easily cleaned when this is required after long operation.

It should be noted that when the machine has been in operation for some time and the level of the adhesive in the container has been lowered, the glue container may be elevated and in this way an additional operating period may be obtained without adding additional adhesive to the container.

The term label as used herein is intended to include equivalent elements such as calender inserts, pictures, box covers, box ends, wrappers and the like, paper or metal foil products, etc, which are to be applied to containers or other articles with adhesive.

If it is desired to use labels which are provided with a heat-softening adhesive backing, the adhesive applicator may be omitted, along with the mechanisms associated with its operation, in which case the adhesive coating on the labels may be softened by the heat (residual from cooking or sterilizing the contents of the containers) from the containers, or by heat applied through the presser pad.

This application is a substitute of application Serial No. 26,795 filed May 13, 1948.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker, an adhesive applicator adapted to apply adhesive to the back side of a label supported on a picker mounted on a label transfer means, a container support member arranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, a label transfer means including a vertically disposed transfer arm, means supporting said arm in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane over said holder, said adhesive applicator and said container support, a picker arm hingedly attached to the free end of said transfer arm, a label picker attached to said picker arm, means for actuating said transfer arm and said picker arm to cause said picker successively to pick up a single label from said holder, to present the undersurface of said label to said adhesive applicator to re ceive adhesive thereon, and to deposit said label on a container on said support member, and presser means adapted to press said label against the surface of a container on said support member.

2. In a labeling machine, a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker, an adhesive applicator adapted to apply adhesive to the back side of a label supported on a label picker mounted on a label transfer means, a container support member arranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, and a label transfer means including a label picker hingedly attached to a transfer arm, means supporting said arm in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane to move said picker successively to 4 positions over said holder, adhesive applicator, and said container support, and means for actuating said picker at each of said positions.

3. In a labeling machine having a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker; an adhesive applicator adapted to apply adhesive to the back side of a label supported on a label picker mounted on a label transfer means, and a container support member arranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, a label transfer means including a label picker hingedly attached to the lower free end of an elongated vertically disposed transfer arm, means pivotally supporting said arm in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane to move said picker successively to positions over said holder, said adhesive applicator and said container support, means for actuating said arm to progressively move said picker to the said positions, and means for actuating said picker at such positions.

4. In a labeling machine, a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker, an adhesive applicator adapted to apply adhesive to the back side of a label supported on a label picker mounted on a label transfer means, a container support member ar ranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, a label transfer means including a vertically disposed transfer arm, means supporting said arm in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane over said holder, said adhesive applicator and said container support, a label picker movably mounted on the lower end of said transfer arm, and means for actuating said picker successively to pick up a single label from said holder, to present the underside of said label to said adhesive applicator to receive adhesive thereon, and to deposit said label on a container on said support member when brought into positions over said holder, applicator and member, respectively, by said transfer arm.

5. In a labeling machine having a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker, an adhesive applicator adapted to apply adhesive to the back side of a label supported on a label picker mounted on a label transfer means, a container support member arranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, a label transfer means including an elongated vertically disposed transfer arm and means pivotally supporting said arm in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane over said holder, said adhesive applicator and said container support, a picker arm having a label picker mounted thereon, hingedly attached to the lower free end of said transfer arm, means for moving said transfer arm to bring said picker successively to positions over said holder, applicator and support, means to at times move said picker arm and said picker in a substantially vertical plane to pick up a single label from said holder, to present the underside of said label to said adhesive applicator to receive adhesive thereon, and to deposit said label on a container on said support memher.

6. in a labeling machine having a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker, a container support member arranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, and presser means adapted to press said label against the surface of a container on said support member, a label transfer means including a label picker hingedly mounted on the lower end of a vertically disposed transfer arm, means pivotally supporting said arm in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane to cause said picker to carry a label from said holder to a label applying position between said label pressing element and said container, said holder and said container support being in substantial alignment, and means for pivotally moving said picker on said transfer arm at said label applying position to apply the label to the container.

7. In a labeling machine, a label holder, an adhesive applicator having vertically reciprocable means provided with an adhesive applying surface adapted to instantaneously coat a label with adhesive on contact therewith, and a container support, said holder, applying means and support being in substantial longitudinal alignment, label transfer means adapted to hold and transfer a label from said label holder toward and into instantaneous surface contact with said adhesive applicator to receive a coating of adhesive and hence to a container to be released and deposited thereon said vertically reciprocable adhesive means and said transfer means having simultaneous vertical relative movement and bringing said label into momentary contact with such applying surface at the top of the advancing movement of said reciprocable adhesive means.

8. In a labeling machine having a label holder, an adhesive applicator, a container support, and means to cyclically carry a label picker from said label holder to said adhesive applicator, then to a container on said container support and back to a neutral position, said adhesive applicator including vertically reciprocable means having an adhesive applying surface adapted to be covered with adhesive at a period in the cycle other than that in which contact is made between said surface and a label on said label picker whereby to avoid contact of said adhesive applying surface section with the atmosphere in order to maintain said applying surface in serviceable condition, and means for simultaneously raising said reciprocal means and advancing said picker to bring the label on said picker into momentary contact with said applying 9 surface at the top of the raising movement of said reciprocable adhesive means, said applying surface being adapted to instantly coat a label with adhesive on instantaneous surface contact therewith.

9. In a labeling machine, a suction picker device comprising a centrally disposed suction cup adapted to hold the center portion of a label, and siderails disposed laterally from said suction picker and having label contacting edges, said side rails being fixed relative to such suction cup and the label contacting edges thereof being substantially level with the lower rim of said suction cup and adapted with said cup to position said label in a substantially flat plane.

10. In a labeling machine, a suction picker comprising a supporting frame attached to a picker arm of said machine, a suction cup attached in depending operative position from said frame, means for attaching a suction tube to said cup, and a pair of depending siderails adjustably attached to said frame on opposite sides of said suction cup and in fixed relation to the latter, the lower edges of said rails being substantially level with the lower rim of such suction cup and adapted to contact a label held by said suction cup to hold said label in a substantially fiat plane.

11. In a labeling machine having a multiple plate edge grid adhesive applicator adapted to apply a pattern of adhesive to the underside of a label and having a recessed area adapted to receive a suction cup without contact therewith, a suction picker for said label comprising a centrally disposed suction cup and a pair of siderails disposed on opposite sides of said suction cup, said side rails being fixed relative to said suction cup and the lower edges of said rails being substantially level with the lower rim of said suction cup and adapted with said cup to hold said label in a substantially fiat plane, and the said lower edges of said rails being notched to avoid contact of the lower edges of said rails with the adhesive-applying grid of said applicator when a label held in said picker is applied thereto.

12. In a labeling machine, a label holder having perpendicular label-holding fingers with end stops to limit the upward movement of a stack of labels held in said fingers, and a label transfer mechanism comprising a depending suction cup, and a depending pressing means fixed with relation to said cup and having a label engaging surface at a level substantially the same as the lip of said cup and adapted to depress the stack of labels held in said fingers away from said stops while said suction cup is attaching itself to the uppermost label in said stack.

13. In a labeling machine, the combination of a suction cup picker and a vertically movable, plane surfaced multiple plate-edge grid adhesive applicator, means for simultaneously raising said applicator and advancing said picker to bring the label on said pickerinto momentary contact with the plane surfaces of said grid at the top of the raising movement of said applicator, said applicator surface having a recessed area adapted to receive said suction cup without contact therewith, and stop means for preventing the edge of said suction cup from engaging with the walls of said recessed area at the top of the raising movement of said applicator, whereby the application of adhesive to the suction cup is avoided when no label is held therebetween by said suction cup.

14. In a labeling machine, a holder for a stack of labels adapted to present a single label to a label picker, a container support member arranged to hold a container upon which the label is to be applied, and a label transfer means including a label picker hingedly attached to a transfer arm, means supporting said arm and picker in depending relation for oscillation in a vertical plane over said holder and said container support, means for pivoting said arm from said holder to said container support, and means for moving said picker relative to said arm to apply a label to the container.

15. In a labeling machine, the combination of a label picker mechanism and an adhesive applicator having a recess in the adhesive applying surface section thereof adapted to receive the label supporting surface of a suction picker, said label picker mechanism comprising a suction picker and siderails with slots, said side rails being fixed with relation to said suction picker and having label supporting surfaces substantially level with the label supporting surface of said suction picker and adapted to contact with said suction picker to hold and position a label in a fiat plane, and said side rails being constructed and arranged so that should said label picker mechanism fail to pick up a label and be transferred to the adhesive applying position, no contact would occur between said picker mechanism and said adhesive applicator, thereby maintaining said picker mechanism in a serviceable condition for picking up a label on the succeeding cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 692,055 Gilfillan et al I an. 28, 1902 1,622,381 Holm et al Mar. 29, 1927 1,741,486 Tibbetts et al. Dec. 31, 1929 2,069,246 Hanson Feb. 2, 1937 2,248,194 Prichard July 8, 1941 2,289,237 Brown July 7, 1942 2,536,907 Brown Jan. 2, 1951 

